It was May 16, at the White House, the first meeting between Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, the unpredictable and elusive « Dictator », Receps Erdogan. There was an explosive file on the table, that of the Kurds of Syria.

Trump and Erdogan promised to relieve the tensions on the angry subjects 9 days before the NATO Summit in Brussels in which Erdogan was to participate, which, let us not forget, represents the southern flank of NATO with the The second most powerful army behind that of the United States.

The recent US decision to arm the YPG Kurdish militias in Syria, perceived as important allies in the struggle against the Islamic state, and especially in the expected future take-up of Raqqa, its headquarters in Syria, is a real apple Of discord.

Erdogan opposes this decision and threatens to withdraw his support to the United States in their fight against Daech.

Erdogan keeps repeating that he fears the birth of an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria that could stir up the independence movements of the Kurdish minority in Turkey.

For him, the YPG militias are only a Syrian extension of the PKK (the Workers’ Party of Kurdistan) of Abdullah Ocalan considered as a terrorist group.

Donald Trump’s desire to arm the Syrian Kurds comes at a time when Iraqi forces, supported by the Americans in the air and on the ground, are on the verge of regaining Mossul.

To reassure the Turks over the presence of mainly Arab and non-Kurdish forces in the future raqqa assault, Trump pledged that the YPG would not occupy Raqqa after his release.

Nevertheless, Trump and Erdogan have promised to strengthen their strategic partnership.

The American President recalled that Turkey must be omnipresent in the fight against Daech.

That said, Trump must remain cautious. He must not forget that he has a dictator in front of him who has practiced massive purges in the Turkish Army, the Police, the Judicial Corps and the Press and who, after 15 years in office, has Has brought Turkey from a secular Republic since 1923 to an Islamic Republic which does not hesitate to play Russia against the West according to its interests.

Some information circulates that in exchange for a US-backed Arabo-Kurdish offensive against the Islamic state in its Raqqa stronghold, Trump could guarantee to Erdogan that the American justice will examine the extradition of Fetullah Gullen, living in exile In Pennsylvania, who is accused by Erdogan of having fomented the coup attempt of 15 July 2016.

In addition, the United States could give its green light to a Turkish offensive against the PKK bases in northern Iraq.

Turkey and the United States have a key role to play in maintaining stability in the Middle East.

Trump needs Turkey to fight against Jihadism, manage Europe’s flood of refugees, negotiate a future peace plan in Syria with Russia and Iran, and let US aviation use the Incirlik military base .